The base-wide event will include briefings, instruction, skill-tests and an optional 50.5-mile group ride.
This year’s training will again include a briefing from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, which has provided skills training for all military riders for more than 20 years. There will also be discussions on rural riding techniques; seeing and being seen; the dynamics of cornering and traction management; and the dynamics of stopping, as well as an annual safety briefing.
Besides lectures, riders will receive a wealth of practical skills training to improve their situational awareness and safety. There will also be a blind spot practical demonstration trailer as well as a slow-ride competition where riders will vie for taking the longest time to go from point a to point b – the gyroscopic force of spinning wheels at speed helps motorcycles stay upright, going slow is a challenge.
“The blind spot demo trailer will be beneficial for everyone, not just motorcycle riders,” said Tech. Sgt. Kevin Tuskey, safety project officer for this year’s event.
Riders can receive training on personal protective equipment as well as a system of checks to ensure their motorcycles are safe to operate. The inspection, called T-CLOCS, stands for tires and wheels; controls; lights and electrics; oil and other fluids; chassis and stands. Safety experts recommend performing the inspection before every ride, and rider coaches from the Wright Wriders will be available to walk attendees through the process.
Event organizers are also seeking to make the motorcycle safety day more of a family event. Onlookers can climb up in the blind spot demo 18-wheeler, observe the slow ride competition, check out the bike show and learn from some of the many passionate motorcycle riders on Wright-Patterson AFB. The event will also feature a DJ, multiple food trucks and local vendors, from 10 a.m. on through the conclusion of the event.
Individuals can sign up on the morning of the event, or by contacting their unit’s motorcycle safety representative.
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